Just an FYI, I had Kairo and Ember here and never saw a "hierarchy". If they fought it was because one was getting on the other's nerves - Kairo was pushy but Ember knew what she did and didn't like and set Kairo right every time. But Kairo was the more outgoing one and the instigator.

One thing I would look for is if blood is being drawn.

Start a journal and journal each and every instance that happens. Find out what is the underlying issue (spacial breaching, warning signals being ignored / boundaries being pushed, possessive behaviors, etc). All of this will tell you something.

Many times having a behavorist come to your home and walking you through what needs to be done can help more than reading or watching videos.
They are trained and can pick up on the small details needed to correct the problem. Until you can get a handle on things you might want to keep them separated for both dogs safety.

How can you be sure there is no fighting when they are alone? Do you have a camera rolling?

Just a question how do you know they are ok when you are not there?
Yes they are fighting over you, but chances are that is not the underlying problem.
Sorry to be a party pooper, girls not getting along is very difficult to resolve.
Get professional help because this needs hands on help. Good luck?

We discussed it last night and we think we've identified the trigger. The recent surge in fighting has all been in the kitchen area and as it is winter now we've started eating in a different room at a coffee table which is lower to ground and we've had the dogs inside while we eat so we think the dogs are frustrated seeing us eat and maybe this is the spark, that is maybe Maddie is striking at Murphy because of competition for food. So we are going to eat in the dining room from now on and see if that changes things.

(05-17-2017, 04:29 AM)only-borders Wrote: Many times having a behavorist come to your home and walking you through what needs to be done can help more than reading or watching videos.
They are trained and can pick up on the small details needed to correct the problem. Until you can get a handle on things you might want to keep them separated for both dogs safety.

How can you be sure there is no fighting when they are alone? Do you have a camera rolling?

Because there's never any blood, the neighbours never report it (and they'd hear it for sure), and often one if us or more are home and the dogs don't realise we are home and wE watch them and they never ever fight